In 2024, the SPAR Austria Group generated total sales revenue of €21.4 billion, reflecting a growth of 4.5%. The Group operates 3,049 SPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR stores, 31 shopping centres, and 227 Hervis stores located in Austria and six neighbouring countries. The Group's EBT totalled €255 million, corresponding to an EBT margin of 1.7%.

For the first time, SPAR Austria food retail sales exceeded €10 billion, a 5.1% increase from the previous year. SPAR Austria also expanded and consolidated its market leadership. 52,000 people are employed across the business in Austria.

In 2024, SPAR Austria invested €780 million, primarily in expanding warehouse capacities, modernising stores, and digitalising processes. Over 300 stores were equipped with electronic shelf labels, with 250 more to follow in 2025. The one-way deposit system, introduced on 1 January 2025, was implemented smoothly. An investment of €900 million is planned for 2025.

Hans K. Reisch, Chairman of SPAR Austria’s Executive Board, said: “2024 was our 70th anniversary year. We strengthened our market leadership in Austria, saw positive development in all countries, and are among the top 3 in each market. We achieved this despite challenges including high inflation and food deflation. Lower energy prices and interest rates allowed us to negotiate price reductions, which we passed on to customers. This helped reduce food inflation to 2.1%, below overall inflation. We are confident about the future. In 2025, we will invest €900 million to further develop the company.”

Market leadership in Austria

SPAR’s gross sales turnover in Austria totalled €10.38 billion, a sales growth of 5.1%. SPAR Austria grew faster than the industry (+4.6% according to NielsenIQ), expanding its market leadership and consolidating it at 36.9%.

In 2024, SPAR Austria operated 1,497 SPAR stores in Austria. Of these, 1,036 were SPAR Supermarkets, 242 EUROSPAR stores, 49 SPAR Gourmet stores, 91 SPAR Express forecourt stores, 70 INTERSPAR Hypermarkets, two INTERSPAR pronto and seven Maximärkte stores. With 60 restaurants, INTERSPAR is one of the largest caterers in Austria.

Independent SPAR retailers

Independent SPAR retailers recorded a sales increase of 5.5%. The number of SPAR retailers’ stores remained nearly the same at 664, compared to 665 in 2023.

Sales growth and expansion

Gross sales of all markets (Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia) grew to €18.46 billion, an increase of 4.4%. The total number of SPAR, EUROSPAR and INTERSPAR stores grew by 13 from 3,036 to 3,049. Numerous supermarkets were modernised in all countries. In the food range, SPAR own brand sales account for 45% of retail turnover.

To celebrate SPAR Austria’s 70th anniversary, the country’s first SPAR store which was opened in 1954 was modernised and digitalised. The façade was also carefully renovated. SPAR Austria is currently revising its store design with the first converted stores due to be opened mid-2025.

New SPAR Express forecourt stores

By the end of 2024, Austria had 91 SPAR Express forecourt stores, operated by various national and regional fuel station operators. In 2024, SPAR Austria entered a new strategic cooperation with petrol station operator SOCAR. The first two sites were opened in Schwechat and Knittelfeld. A SPAR Express store was also opened in Innsbruck with forecourt operator Gutmann. The network of forecourt stores will expand by 40 locations in 2025.

Successful introduction of single-use deposit

Starting 1 January 2025, a deposit will apply to certain single-use beverage containers in Austria. SPAR Austria invested over €40 million in new return machines and reprogramming existing ones ahead of this regulation. By the end of February, 1 million containers had been returned to SPAR and INTERSPAR stores. From March 2025, most major beverage manufacturers will have converted their bottles and cans and SPAR Austria expects a surge in returns. Employees are being trained as deposit advisors to answer shoppers queries. Customers can choose to donate deposit credits to charity or receive the deposit amount as a refund at checkout.

Source: SPAR Austria

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About SPAR Austria

The origins of SPAR in Austria date back to 1954, but the current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company. With licences granted by SPAR International, ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) has developed the brand in Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy.